Saturday 6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: May Kae
Sunday 9:00 am: Sheila Norman (BR)
Sunday 10:45 am: Ann Snowling (12th Anniversary) and Michael Stevens (Anniversary)
Sunday 6:00 pm: For the people of the parish
Monday 20th April – Ferial: Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 118; John 6:22-29
11 am Eucharistic Adoration followed by Mass at 12:15 pm Jane Kluth (1st Anniv.)
Tuesday 21st April – Ferial (St Anselm Of Canterbury): Acts 7:51-8:1; Psalm 30; John 6:30-35
12:15 pm: Duncan Mason (health and wellbeing)
Wednesday 22nd April – Ferial: Acts 8:1-8; Psalm 65; John 6:35-40
12:15 pm: Daniel Howard (Anniv.)
Thursday 23rd April – St George Patron of England (Solemnity):
Revelation 12:10-12; Psalm 126; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; 3:10-12; Luke 9: 23-26
11 am Eucharistic Adoration followed by Mass at 12:15 pm: Gerry Cummins (12th Anniversary)
Friday 24th April – Ferial (St Adalbert and St Fidelis): Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117; John 6: 52-59
10:00 – 11:00 am: Eucharistic Adoration
12:15 pm: Requiem Mass for the late Bernard Tighe
Saturday 25th April – St Mark: 1 Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 88; Mark 16:15-20
9:00 am: Wendy Jones (B.R.) followed by adoration and confessions.
6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: For the people of the parish
SUNDAY 26th April 2026: Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14,36-41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10
Saturday 6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: For the people of the parish
Sunday 9:00 am: Paul Black (RD)
Sunday 10:45 am: José Benito Martinez de Espronceda (RD)
Sunday 6:00 pm: Robert Sydney Hutchinson (BR)
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Helen and Peter Jones, Rita Spencer, Duncan Mason, Michael Melia, José Luis Velasco, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, Bill Hackett, Stuart Clark, Kevin Maguire, Ruth O’Kane, Phillip Peers and Adele Vance, and for all the sick of the Parish. We also remember our beloved dead, particularly those who have died recently, including Teresa Bainbridge, Mary Bannon, Prof. Paul Black, Ian Bruce, Alexandra Mays Chandler, Margaret Chantler, Elizabeth (Betty) Cooney, Pam Corkerton, Ruby Daniel-McCann (aged 2), Antonia Daniel-Passmore, Ena Donovan, Jamie Lee Granger, Wendy Griffith, Derek Hannaby, Harry Huxley, Jeni Jamieson, Sam Marsden, Ed Mulligan (New Jersey), William Noon, Joseph O’Leary, Victor Piggott, Elizabeth Kathryn Skupski, Margaret Testo, Bernard Tighe, Elizabeth Tobin, Margaret Tudor, Richard Wright and those whose anniversaries occur about this time, including John Flaherty, Mary Barrett, Roy Davies, Raymond Egan, Gazala Thweney, John Davies, Steven Pavia, Isabella Hamilton, Frances Frearson, Maureen Edwards, Norman Cross, Katie Dowling, Pat Maguire, John Heffernan, John McAnally, Cath Clisham, Lorna Harris, Nora Rathbone, Patricia Parsonage, Jane Gregory, John McMahon, Veronica (Ron) Lovatt, Kathleen Rivas, Rev John Flood, Rev John Gannon, Canon Patrick J Egan, Rev Robin Sutton and Rev Dennis O’Sullivan ~May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen. Alleluia! ~
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SVP: svpchester@gmail.com 07778-392816
Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.
Diocese of Shrewsbury: Charity No 234025.
Safeguarding safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello 07813-743-723 & Chris Proudfoot 07711-495-070
Newsletter items- admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk
Dear brothers and sisters, I am sure many of you will be delighted to see Fr Peter Sharrocks, now enjoying retirement, who will be present at the celebration of Mass this Sunday morning, just as I know those who attend Mass at Rowton will offer a very warm welcome to Fr Robert Dykes, parish priest at St Joseph’s, Upton.
The Gospel today recalls the familiar story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus. The anonymous companion who walks with Cleopas opens a space for you and me to take our part in this journey. Indeed, in many classic artistic representations, e.g by Rembrandt, Caravaggio and others, his back is turned to the viewer to invite him or her to enter and take a place at the table. As they walk along the road, downcast and filled with grief, before recognising Christ who walks beside them, they exclaim “we had hoped…” As one of my former superiors once commented in a reflection on this passage, it’s a terrible thing to conjugate ‘hope' in the past tense! Christ goes before us, for he is our hope! In the midst of darkness and doubt, and even when our own lives are affected by sadness and pain, he comes to warm our hearts with his Word, which calls us to life, and even now he breaks the bread, which is his body given for us. Come let us worship! Let’s go inside and, as friends of Cleopas, make his words our own prayer “Stay with us, Lord Jesus!”: Walk with us, oh Lord, be at our side and help to perceive your presence and to look at the present and the future with joyful hope.
Happy Sunday and may God bless you all. Fr David +
There are still some new Tax Year weekly offertory envelopes to be collected. Please do take yours if you make your weekly offering to the parish in this way. Thank you!
Mary’s Meals - Thank you to everyone who has contributed by donating, purchasing a copy of the St Werburgh's Family Prayer book, or buying a Welcome Wednesday raffle ticket. A grand total of £566.91 was raised.
Church Cleaners – Please can you lend a hand to help keep the Church looking presentable and welcoming. If able to help, please email admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk
The Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality Focus Group 21st April, at 7:00 pm (open to all members, new and old) will meet at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, CH2 1PL. Fr Sean Henry, Chaplain to the Hospitality, will join us. If you wish to attend, please email Clare Marchmont at secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
Holy Family Appeal We welcome Sr Mary Lucy Mbamara who will speak about the work of her congregation at the end of each Mass on the 25/26th April. The Holy Family Sisters of the Needy is a female religious institute founded in Nigeria, that dispenses God’s love among the needy in difficult situations especially in Africa and other developing countries, providing food, shelter, medical care, clothing and quality education.
CAFOD: Stand with Sudan. Give monthly. On the third anniversary of the war in Sudan, Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’s Head of Region for Africa, asks for your help: “So many of our sisters and brothers in Sudan are facing increasing violence, hunger, and disease. That is why today, I’m asking you to consider setting up a monthly gift to support families who are fleeing the violence – with food, safe water and other vital support. Monthly gifts are an act of steady love for our neighbours, a way of saying: we will not abandon you; we will stand with you until peace is restored.” Donate at https://cafod.org.uk/StandWithSudan
Welcome Wednesday were treated last week to an absorbing talk about Antarctica. Our thanks to John Petterson for sharing his extensive knowledge and love of Antarctica with us. More tea, coffee, chat and dominoes on Wednesday 22nd April 10:30 am and as always - all are welcome.
ADoRE spiritual mini-retreat 25th April 10.00 am - 1.00 pm online. "SURRENDER TO LOVE.” The Holy Spirit transforms us by helping us surrender to God’s love. The retreat includes Mass, Adoration, Praise, Prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and an inspiring talk from speaker Geoff Poulter, trainer in prophecy, healing and discipleship. Attend in person if possible, at St. Joseph’s, Christchurch, Dorset.
Details: https://www.altonrenewal.com/this_month
Encountering Jesus in the Gospels. The Jesuit Institute is running a short online formation course building the skills and confidence needed to hold and guide groups of those who wish to deepen their relationship with Jesus, in conversation with others, through reflectively praying with gospel texts. Time: Tuesday evenings 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Dates: April 21st, 28th, May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, June 9th. For details: https://jesuitinstitute.org/events
First Sacraments Meeting and Class for families whose children are not at St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s School. Our meeting and class for children and their parents will take place on Tuesday 28th April at 6:30 pm at St Werburgh’s Church. The children will need their workbooks, folders and pencil cases. This is the last meeting before the children make their First Holy Communion, so it is important that all attend.
Caritas Boxes Spring Collection: If you are a Caritas box holder, please bring monies to 9:00 am or 10:45 am Mass on Sunday 3rd May in a strong bag or envelope clearly marked with your name. You can also set up a Standing Order or donate via the Caritas website www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk Standing Order and Gift Aid forms are available on the day or online. New contributors welcome. Please contact 07757518312.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by the Bishop on 11th November next at St Columba’s church. It is possible for individuals from all parishes in Chester and will be led by St Columba and St Theresa’s Confirmation preparation team. Anyone currently at high school, or older is encouraged to prepare. Please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested.
Photo of the week: Thank you to Christian Matheson for sending in this photo of the Salt Cathedral in Colombia, a fully consecrated cathedral carved out of the rock and salt 200 metres below a mountain in Zipaquira. It is accessed via a descending ramped walkway alongside which are the Stations of the Cross, either carved out of the rock walls or carved in relief.

